Features

1. Let Me Tell You About My School
By Arian Jay A. Perenal
My school lies in the middle of the vast fields with mountain range in the background. Sounds far-
off, right? While a school’s prestige may not be the basis of an individual achievements or quality, good
names of school do matter, and many would enroll in city schools. So when I completed my junior high
school education, I started to think about which school to enroll for my Senior High School studies.
Influenced by my friends who were also my classmates, I enroll in one of the schools in the city.
After some time, however, I found myself unsatisfied and uneasy in my new school. New thing I knew, I
was already contacting one of the senior high school teachers in my former school in the hills, asking him
if I could go back, enroll, and catch up in their classes. He agreed.
Relieved, I started jotting down the following benefits of enrolling in my barrio school:
 Fare-less
The school is nearer to our house, so in case a motorized vehicle is not available, I
can still go there by foot. That’s a double profit. I can exercise while saving my money.
 Minimal expenses
Everything in the city is priced and expensive. You must pay for almost everything
you need. Students in urban schools spend more than students in rural schools do.
 Congestion-free
A crowded classroom means a lot of noise, among other things. Aside from being
a distraction, noise lower the students’ chances of being able to listen well to the teacher.
For me, that translates to lower chances of understanding.
Thankfully, as of writing, there are only 19 of us students in Grade 11. It appears
that only few students prefer Agriculture-related courses, which are usually offered in most
of the far-flung senior high schools in our place. Not bad. Need space? Our school has
lots of it.
 Better teacher-to-student ratio
Since we are few in class, our teachers can spend more time with each one of us.
This gives us ample time to follow up and probably have remedial classes on our least
learned skills.
 Less prone to bad influences
Vices and bad influences are everywhere. Illegal drugs, liquor, pre-marital-sex,
cigarettes, irresponsible peers-these are what most teens are now involved in, which put
their future at risk. As for our school, I can say that, while these are present, only a few
engage in them so I am less prone to these bad influences.
 Free access to natures best
Nature is the best place to unwind. Every holiday season, tourist spots around the
world teem with people who want to relax while experiencing new sights and
amusements. Often the beat experiences come with high price. This is not true for barrio
schools.
Aside from access to inexpensive education, we also experience nature at its
best—for free. Whether we want to see different plants and animals or breath fresh air,
everything is here. It’s like an educational institution and a tourist spot combined.
 Unlimited parental advice
Many students in urban schools fail to deliver what is expected of them, largely, I
believe, due to lack of parental monitoring. Parents can be too busy with making a living
they don’t have time for their own children. That is in stark contrast with families living in
rural farmlands. Parents and children have more time doing things together--- eating,
playing, going to church. My parents have more available time to follow upon my school
activities.
After making my list, I realized that even if I missed the sophisticated facilities in
my urban school, still I have enough benefits in my rural school.
Nonetheless, no matter which school I go to, I know it is my personal dedication
that will be a strong factor to determine my success in the future.